By Erica Kearns
Although the rate of deer/car collisions has declined elsewhere across the United States, West Virginia still remains the most likely state in which a motorist will hit a deer while driving. WV has topped the annual State Farm survey for the past seven years.
“There’s been a decline of about 4.3 percent,” said Dave Phillips, spokesman for State Farm Insurance. “West Virginia though is still number one. Even though West Virginia remains number one, that’s an 8.3 percent reduction from the previous year. The crashes are down, but there’s still an issue that those deer are out there. The average nationally is about one in 174 to hit a deer, but in West Virginia it’s one in 41.”
Research shows that November is the most likely time to hit a deer while driving on the highway. During this time rutting is in peak for deer as well as hunting season for the animals. Keep this in mind when travelling the long and winding roads of West Virginia and stay alert of deer entering your path of travel.
The average cost of repairs for a deer/car collision is around $3,000.00.
